Hot-air Ballooning Review

Mallorca has so much to offer the intrepid and lethargic alike but there are few activities that can appease both at the same time. Flying over Cala Millor in a hot air balloon is one such activity and thankfully ballooning in Mallorca is readily available thanks to Jordi at IB Ballooning.

Hot Air ballooning is one of those activities usually reserved for eccentric billionaires. Richard Branson and Toad of Toad Hall were both fans of ballooning, I think I've made my point. Held back by my bank balance and age (I don't think you can really be eccentric until you are in your 60's) I had never given Ballooning much thought until I was told that there was a chance to fly over Mallorca's beautiful north east coast at sun set whilst sipping champagne.

Liking the idea of flying but also the fact that ballooning is quite slow and there would be champagne involved I thought this was an ideal opportunity to be both adventurous and quite lazy all at once.

We met our pilot Jordi from IB Ballooning outside the Auditorium Sa Maniga in the east coast resort of Cala Millor. He directed us a little further down the road to a field where the balloon would be set up and our flight would begin. In the field the basket, envelope and burner were all assembled when Jordi dropped the bomb; there isn't enough space for all of us. Thinking that ballooning at sunset with champagne might be romantic I had brought the Canadian along and now our party was on too many.

Ever the chivalrous gent I opted to stay on the ground and film their flight as Jordi said we could stop half way and I could swap with my plaid-loving Canuck. Alas this was not to be. Unfavourable winds made landing at half time impossible so what follows has been dictated by the Canadian;

"We all climbed into the balloon one by one and there wasn't much space. But it was more comfortable than your underground at rush hour. I was a little nervous that it would be cold during the flight but the first blast from the burner soon made me realise my jacket wasn't necessary.
It's actually very hot inside the basket as the burner gives off so much heat but flames aside it is not uncomfortable and is a very gentle way to fly.

I don't really like heights and I'm not a big fan of take off and landing in air-planes but flying in a balloon is really gentle. There is no dropping feeling in your stomach when you lift of the ground and you only really know you are climbing or decending because of the burner being fired and the altimeter on board. It's really smooth.

We flew for about an hour and at our heighest we were cruising just below 600m and at the lowest we could wave to people on the ground as we flew overhead. The sunset from the air was really beautiful and it's something I'll never forget.

The landing was something I'd been a little worried about. Jordi had told us that each flight ended in a different spot because our flight path was dictated by the winds and not him. As we came lower and lower Jordi was looking for a suitable field to touch down in when it occured to me that we didn't have any wheels or breaks and this might get a little rough. Again I didn't need to worry. We bumped gently to the ground and climbed out, like we'd entered, one-by-one. As each one of us left the basket it began to take off again but our pilot was in control and we all made it back to Mallorcan soil safe and sound."

I have since been told by the Canadian that the flight was great and that she thoroughly enjoyed it. If you would like a similar experience contact IB Ballooning and book a flight.

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